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August 22nd 2002
In this deeply personal and reflective episode of Concepts & Conversations, Coach Bryan rewinds to August 22, 2002—a day that forever changed his perspective on faith, relationships, and how God works in our lives. What began as the hopeful anticipation of a new school year quickly became one of the most defining emotional experiences of his young adulthood.
With honesty and vulnerability, Bryan shares the story of a blonde-haired, blue-eyed young woman who had captured his attention months earlier. Fueled by late-night R&B anthems like Musiq Soulchild’s “Don’t Change” and “Halfcrazy”, and the anticipation of returning to campus, he carried a heart full of dreams and the courage to finally confess his feelings. Through AOL Instant Messenger—one of the era’s most unforgettable tools of connection—he laid his heart bare, admitting his admiration and desire to move beyond friendship.
Her response? A polite but crushing revelation: she was already in a relationship. What followed was an emotional collapse, tears in the quiet of a dorm room, and an urgent search for comfort in the pages of scripture. Landing on Hebrews 6:13–18, Bryan found renewed hope, convincing himself that what God had promised could still come to pass if he remained patient. For years he carried that belief, interpreting circumstances, moments, and even chance encounters as signs that his time would eventually come.
But as the story unfolds—through her eventual move to Atlanta, through years of friendship, and through a final heartbreaking reality check in March 2006—Bryan reflects on the painful but liberating truth: God doesn’t choose your spouse for you. He gives each of us free will. Relationships are about mutual choice, not divine assignment.
This episode isn’t just a nostalgic trip back to early 2000s campus life, complete with dorm mates, cafeteria meal plans, and AOL Messenger. It’s a raw exploration of young love, misplaced faith, emotional resilience, and the lessons we only learn after years of hindsight.
Listeners will walk away reminded that:
What’s meant for you will never require chasing.
What isn’t for you will never bring lasting peace.
And while God blesses us with guidance and hope, He never forces someone else’s heart to choose us.
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By Bryan Thomas
5
1010 ratings
In this deeply personal and reflective episode of Concepts & Conversations, Coach Bryan rewinds to August 22, 2002—a day that forever changed his perspective on faith, relationships, and how God works in our lives. What began as the hopeful anticipation of a new school year quickly became one of the most defining emotional experiences of his young adulthood.
With honesty and vulnerability, Bryan shares the story of a blonde-haired, blue-eyed young woman who had captured his attention months earlier. Fueled by late-night R&B anthems like Musiq Soulchild’s “Don’t Change” and “Halfcrazy”, and the anticipation of returning to campus, he carried a heart full of dreams and the courage to finally confess his feelings. Through AOL Instant Messenger—one of the era’s most unforgettable tools of connection—he laid his heart bare, admitting his admiration and desire to move beyond friendship.
Her response? A polite but crushing revelation: she was already in a relationship. What followed was an emotional collapse, tears in the quiet of a dorm room, and an urgent search for comfort in the pages of scripture. Landing on Hebrews 6:13–18, Bryan found renewed hope, convincing himself that what God had promised could still come to pass if he remained patient. For years he carried that belief, interpreting circumstances, moments, and even chance encounters as signs that his time would eventually come.
But as the story unfolds—through her eventual move to Atlanta, through years of friendship, and through a final heartbreaking reality check in March 2006—Bryan reflects on the painful but liberating truth: God doesn’t choose your spouse for you. He gives each of us free will. Relationships are about mutual choice, not divine assignment.
This episode isn’t just a nostalgic trip back to early 2000s campus life, complete with dorm mates, cafeteria meal plans, and AOL Messenger. It’s a raw exploration of young love, misplaced faith, emotional resilience, and the lessons we only learn after years of hindsight.
Listeners will walk away reminded that:
What’s meant for you will never require chasing.
What isn’t for you will never bring lasting peace.
And while God blesses us with guidance and hope, He never forces someone else’s heart to choose us.